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Identifier

000334839

Title

Ο ρόλος των σφιγγολιπιδίων, γλυκολιπιδίων και φωσφολιπιδών στο επιθηλιακό φραγμό διαπερατότητας της τραχείας στη Drosophila melanogaster

Alternative Title

The role of sphingolipids, glycolipids and phospholipids in the epithelial permeability barrier of the trachea in Drosophila melanogaster

Author

Τσικαλά, Γεωργία

Thesis advisor

Καραγωγέως, Δόμνα
Δελιδάκης, Χρήστος

Abstract

The cellular junctions that connect the neighbouring cells of the epithelia, are important for the maintenance of the epithelial integrity. In polarised cells, junction formation and function depend on cells attaining the correct apical-basal polarity and on the trafficking of junction components to the correct membrane domain. While much progress has been made in learning how several junction proteins contribute to cell polarity, little is known about the contribution of lipids to cell polarization and cell adhesion. We use Drosophila as a system to study the role of lipids ((glyco)-sphingolipids and phospholipids) in the establishment of cell polarity and cell adhesion. We concentrate on the formation of septate junctions (SJ), which sustain the permeability diffusion barriers, and are found among epithelial cells and among glial cells that enwrap the nervous system. As a handle to the genetic study of lipids in this context, we investigate the contribution of lipid metabolism genes to the process of SJ formation. We performed a genetic screen for the identification of new genes responsible for integrity of the epithelia permeability barrier in Drosophila melanogaster, using the dye penetration assay, which is an easy way to monitor the disruption of the epitheial permeability barrier. We screened mutants in sphingolipid, glycosphingolipid, and phospholipid metabolism genes and identified 8 possible candidate genes, which when mutated, lead to disruption of the permeability barrier. In this particular study, we are trying to phenotypically characterize two mutant strains that show impaired permeability barrier in the dye penetration assays. Additionally, in the context of studying a lipid metabolism gene that appears to be involved in the development of the trachea, we are trying to characterize a mutant strain for this gene. A second part of this project involves the characterization of the subcellular localization of different types of lipids in polarized cells of the epithelia of Drosophila melanogaster, by creating adequate chimeric molecules.These molecules contain GFP protein and allow the speculation of different types of lipids.

Language

Greek

Subject

Cell Communication

Intercellular Junctions

Lipid

Lipid sensors

Septate junctions

Αισθητήρες λιπιδίων

Διαφραγματικοί σύνδεσμοι

Κυτταρική επικοινωνία

Issue date